Friday Miscellany: Travel Plans And More

A Change Of Plan…

When we book our overseas trips, we usually do so several months to a year in advance to be able to use our frequent flyer miles. I’d never been to Vienna, and le Monsieur hadn’t been since he was a teen, so we decided to make that the primary destination for this year’s trip (with a side trip to Salzburg for a couple of days and a few days in London at the end). Booked the flights last summer for this summer, all set. Or so we thought…

We had both really enjoyed visiting the Bourgogne region of France last year, and knew we eventually wanted to return. And we kept talking about it and reading articles about the region, food, and wine. A couple of weeks ago we acknowledged that neither of us was as enthusiastic about Vienna as we were about returning to Bourgogne, so made the switch. (Fortunately, we only had to rebook the flights from and back to London, as the long-haul portion of the trip didn’t change.)

Rather than staying in Lyon this time we’re looking at the area between Macon and Dijon, probably Beaune. We’re still keeping the London portion for the last few days.

The photo above was taken at the La Moutarderie Edmond Fallot (mustard boutique and museum) in Beaune. (I’m so short I had to stand on tiptoes to get my face in the hole! 😆 ) We made a short stop there driving from Lyon to Paris. Still enjoying some of the mustards we brought home!

Wrapped Up

Even in warmer months, I always bring a travel wrap for the plane or unexpected cold. Many of you have mentioned that you’re allergic or sensitive to wool or cashmere, so you may be interested in this wool-free wrap from emme, offered in black and plum (shown above). Use code UNEFEMME for 20% off for a limited time.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I realized I never announced the winner of the February My Stylish French Box… congratulations to Wendy!  (We had a few Wendy’s enter the giveaway, but the winner was notified by email last week. )

There are still a limited number of boxes available to order (will be shipped later this month)…click HERE for more information and to order.

And a few sales worth mentioning…

J.Crew25% off full-price styles with code SHOPTOIT (including my favorite sweater coat!!)

Eileen Fisherend of season sale

Bloomingdale’sWinter Break Sale, up to 70% off

Nordstromup to 50% off

Where will you be traveling this year?

Bon weekend!

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60 Comments

  1. Vienna is pretty fabulous. But I also understand the attraction of Bourgogne. Near Beaune, in the countryside outside Chassey-le-Camp, is Auberge du Camp Romain, a nice hotel with a good restaurant. My husband went there regularly on wine-buying trips before we met, and we also stayed there together.
    And a good winery is Domaine Moreteaux.

    1. Austria is also producing some very good wines now, in particular whites. As does the bilingual Italo-German Trentino Alto-Adige region in northeastern Italy, bordering southern Austrial. And Vienna has Heuriger! (wine taverns) with local foods and wine on tap that are a lovely experience.

      Except for the wines, of course, I didn’t find Burgundy very interesting; much preferred my month-long stay in Lyon. À chacune son goût! I’m a hardcore urbanite, I guess.

  2. I wish I was going somewhere exciting (next year – 25th anniversary) but this year we’re exploring areas to retire/change employment from NYC. Love it but so expensive and after 16 years would rather pocket $$s for European travel and live a little more simply. Ready for a Southern change. Thinking of areas around Richmond, VA, Nashville, TN and triangle around Raleigh NC. Anyone have thoughts?

    1. We are also looking at retiring, likely in 4 years. We will be heading south from Washington DC. I adore the Richmond VA area, it is a true gem. The art museum is fabulous, and it has an incredible food scene. It is more cosmopolitan than one might think. I would also consider Asheville NC for it’s wonderful climate, and artsy, foodie scene. We are looking at the Knoxville TN area, as well, because of the favorable tax climate in TN. Nashville is also a possibility.

    2. Asheville is too far from an airport to make it a goal for my retirement, sadly. I have a 1 hour rule (which is how far we are from RDU right now….) My mom lives in Beech Mtn – the NC mtns are gorgeous! But in general, the Triangle scores well on most people’s list of retirement requirements – good health care, not ridiculously expensive cost of living….Public transportation isn’t great throughout the region (though in smaller areas it can be good – free buses in Chapel Hill, Durham, Central Raleigh….) I’ve lived & worked in NC for 20 yrs now and plan to stay (though we live rurally outside the popular areas, my commute to the university where I work is only 30 miles, and no traffic!)

    3. Hi Pamela,
      We have lived in Williamsburg, Va – just 45 minutes east of Richmond for 25 years. If you have any questions about the area, I would be happy to answer them.

    4. Cary. We call it the Containment Area for Retired Yankees. It’ll feel small town to you, there are plenty of other northeasterners to keep you company, and lots to do. Should be within your 1 hour airport range,too.

      1. Relocated Yankees is what I was taught when I moved to NC 😉 I’m the one with the “hour” airport rule- not Pamela who started the retirement discussion. Sorry for the confusion. I already live within an hour of RDU, just not in my preferred retirement location 😉 And Cary sure as heck ain’t where I want to go….

        1. Oh, I beg your pardon! I definitely got confused s to who had what requirements. Is Cary not nice anymore? My mom had friends who retied there from NYC, and they love it.

          1. I’m sure it’s a nice suburban type place. With lots and lots of traffic and strip malls. Just not my thing (I can’t help it – for most of my time in NC, I’ve lived in a house I built on an old tobacco farm in the middle of nowhere – I’m a little spoiled! No food delivery, but perfection otherwise 😉 We all have different priorities – the Triangle has variety, to be sure! Heaven knows the schools are way better in Cary than they are in my county, but I don’t have kids so I care less….

    5. We’ve lived in Raleigh since 1995 and love it. Lots of arts/culture opportunities, college sports, great healthcare options, exciting restaurant scene, nice people. NC politics are changing for the better. I’d be happy to tell you more.

  3. Thank for the suggestion of the travel wrap. I ordered it in black for a river boat cruise this fall in Russia. I will be revisiting your blog for ideas for my wardrobe. I know for sure my basics will be black and gray because that’s pretty much what I own. It’s always the accent color and shoes that stump me.

  4. This year we will spend a month + exploring Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland by foot and boat. I plan to take a pair of comfortable, water proof ankle boots but am looking for ideas for a second shoe. And this may be the trip where I actually bring my cashmere wrap. 🙂

    1. I have spent the past 10 years in the Nordic countries, and what you should take and wear will depend very much on the time of year you go. For example, you wouldn’t need waterproof ankle boots in the summer; you’d be miserable, but they are crucial in the late Fall through early Winter. When it gets really snowy, though, you’re going to want long underwear and knee high boots (preferably waterproof; mine are Mephisto, and have made all the difference in colder months). But I don’t know when you’re going, so I’ll just say these are cold places to go, but they do get a proper summer, albeit quite short, and have temperatures into the 80s from time to time, and as low as -15F from time to time.

        1. I was born in Denmark but grew up in Canada. We often visit family in May/June & for the last 4 trips the temperature has been 21 c. Sunny & warm. May, 2016 we flew to Iceland first & used layers of merino wool (first layers of ls tops, long underwear then merino sweaters, hat, socks & gloves). The wind was fierce & temps dropped. No umbrella as high winds. Suggest a mid length rain coat & layers as we used. Wish I had packed my merino neck tube. I didn’t pack boots but wore a pair of sturdy waterproof Naot shoes. Then we flew to Denmark only to pack down all the merino as it was hot & sunny. Definitely pack layers which will see you through all the temp changes. Very expensive to shop in Scandinavia & even more in Iceland.

  5. My hubby and I are doing an Danube cruise and we begin with an extended stay in VIENNA!! I love that city. He’s never been and it’s been decades for me ,so we will discover so much together. I remember as a teenager, people watching as the crowds walked by near St Stephen’s Cathedral, and I saw a woman wearing cream trousers, camel boots and a cream coat with a furry hat. My little 16 year old self was stunned. She was so elegant , so coordinated. No idea who she was or where she was going , but never forgot that someday, I wanted to be as elegantly put together as she was.

    1. Sweet story. It’s almost magical how moments like that imprint us so deeply and even influence our life decisions.

  6. I love reading about your European travels and your wardrobe choices. My OAO (One And Only) and I have plans for two wonderful adventures, as I call them, this year. We will take a long cruise on the Mediterranean after spending one week traveling through Italy concentrating on the Big Three (Venice, Florence, and Rome). My struggle is packing reasonably for this trip that will last over a month. And, we will be responsible for lugging luggage across Italy. Unfortunately I still find it difficult to pack light. You’d think I’d know better. I’ve had extended European vacations before and have always packed too much. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Our next adventure is in the Fall to the South Pacific for a month. I’ll worry about that one later. The first trip is this May.

    1. You only need to pack for a week, no matter how long the trip. Take a capsule wardrobe of sink washable clothes. Don’t take anything that can’t be worn with several other items or anything that you will only wear once. Layer, layer, layer. No more than three pairs of shoes. Yes, you will repeat outfits. No, you won’t be sorry. Google “packing light” — you will be overwhelmed with tips. (If you can’t carry all your luggage up a flight of stairs yourself, you have packed too much.)

      1. So true. We traveled to Europe for 20 days with just a carry-on and personal item last May. At the 10 day mark we just took 2 hours out of our vacation to hit the laundromat and we were good for the rest of the trip. Truly, no one cares if you wear an outfit more than once—who but you would know really. Traveling light and comfortably was so liberating I’ll never check a bag again. Do it—you will thank yourself every day of your trip.

    2. My suggestion is always to start with the shoes, focus on lightweight layers in washable fabrics, keep your wardrobe pieces simple, and use accessories for variety. I’ve posted lots of hypothetical and actual travel wardrobes, click HERE for ideas and tips!

      1. Thanks everyone for your advice. Sometimes we just need reassurance from others that simply chic is viable under all circumstances. We are looking forward to our trip and I won’t let packing woes deter our fun.

  7. We spent some time in Stockholm, Norway and Denmark last spring (May-June) and I have to say the weather was gorgeous and the scenery/surroundings knocked us out – both rural and urban (Stockholm and Copenhagen). We also will be going on a Danube cruise in early fall, but only get to spend a day in Vienna which I haven’t been to but hear is terrific. We will be spending a few days in London, thinking of some side trips into the countryside areas as we spent some time in the city proper last spring. I’m curious as to what Susan plans to see there. It’s fun to read about others’ experiences, past and present. Here’s to travel!

    1. I LOVED the Danube River cruise for our 20th anniversary. The time in Vienna was brief, but we found the city so charming. We opted for the extra excursion to the summer palace. It was on my “must see” list.

    2. If you are looking for side trips from London….this might be a little farther than you want to go, but I highly recommend Lincoln, in the northeast. It’s about a 2 hour train trip from London. I’ve been lucky enough to go to Lincoln several times. It’s a beautiful small city, with a castle AND a cathedral, both of which are fantastic. The castle also has one of the four original Magna Cartas. Lots of cute shops, pubs, and tearooms!

  8. Pamela, come down south! I’m in Charlotte and love everything about it. Even convinced my sister and her husband to downsize and make the move from Darien to Charlotte. Richmond is obviously smaller but a good option, too. Big decisions!

  9. I loved your post today! My Grandfather was born in Langres (Bonnecourt), not too far from where you’ll be going. I’ve been to Paris and Provence, but haven’t made it to that area yet. I look forward to hearing all about your trip!

  10. We stayed in Beaune last May and loved it. I got the wrap for Christmas! Can’t wait to use it on our travels this year!

  11. We’re going on a Baltic cruise in July, with three days in St. Petersburg. Beginning in Copenhagen, ending in Stockholm. Thanks to your blog, I already have my sneakers and a comfy pair of Eileen Fisher sandals with thick soles and ankle support. Your advice has already helped me build a travel worthy core wardrobe. One plus to the Eileen Fisher pieces is that the color tones remain compatible year after year. So easy to add new updates!

  12. In September we are going on a river cruise which starts in Beaune and goes south through Provence. We may visit Brussels before the cruise to attend a beer festival in the main square. We just happened to be in Brussels on the weekend of the festival several years ago and couldn’t figure out what all the white tents were for. The museum attendant told us about it and my husband couldn’t get there fast enough! I’m looking forward to your report when you return so that we can learn from your trip. I’m looking forward to visiting Avignon.
    The last time we were in that area (28 years ago) we drove through pretty quickly. Have you been to the Dorgogne/Lot river area? It’s on the western side of the country. It is one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen. We stayed in a chateau outside Cahors and it was like being in a fairytale. The forests, hills and rivers are breathtaking. D’Artagnan came from that area.

  13. Such a shame that you are not going to Vienna, Susan. I know how much you love France, but sometimes, a change is good for the soul. Although I live in Canada, I’m frequently in Vienna/Austria because I have family there (my dad is from Vienna). You would love the old “Inner City” of Vienna with its extensive pedestrian areas, cutting edge fashions, the food, the wines and palaces. Later September is the perfect time to experience the wine harvest and the village wine festivals (just outside of Vienna in the province of Burganland). Go west to Salzburg & Innsbruck and the Alps are stunning. Of course, this country is close to my heart as France is for you. Lucky me because I have family who summer in Provence France, so I have the best of both countries.

    1. Vienna is still on our list. We just felt we’d barely scratched the surface of the Bourgogne region, and wanted to spend a bit more time in the country.

  14. We have spent a week in Beaune several times. Always stay at Le Cep. https://le-cep-hotel-beaune.booked.net/
    Beautiful hotel, lovely people, and you can walk anywhere in the city proper from there. We only used our vehicle to visit area vintners.
    Car rental close by, so you can take the train and rent a vehicle only when you need it.

  15. Another lovely town near there is Chalon-sur-Saon. We were there a couple of times when we were looking for a second home in France in that region. I agree that it is a lovely region. The funny thing is, when you “cross” the big highway going from north to south (Route du Soleil) you have the Bresse region which is flat as a pancake and no fun at all. While Bourgogne is cozy, little houses all together, hills, richness.
    It is a good thing you acknowledged your gut feeling about Vienna.
    Greetje

  16. Hi Susan
    Vienna and Salzberg, Innsbrook deserve a visit. Munich and Germany are great in the fall..we also did a trip to Munich and then drove to Italy where we spent a month renting homes around Venice, Lake Garda and Lake Como. …the drive from Munich to Italy is beautiful.
    …..But one of our best trips for France was a week in Paris…rented a car ( watch for speed cameras) even 5 miles over.
    Headed from Paris to Champagne, then down to Dijon, Lyon, Avignon and rented a place near Nice. Day trips to Eze and St Paul de Vence, Saint Tropez, Cap Benat, Monaco….. Flying back to states from Nice. Granted we spent more than a month there…all stops included a few days stay to explore in each town. I want to go back to areas closer to Switzerland. We are blessed to have time. Not so while working, with only a week off at a time. We love being retired

    Renting cars is the way to see more but be brave, watch for rip offs and have a good marriage partner. It can get tense, in my opinion.

  17. I get it – we were there last summer and fell in love. My husband even warmed to the idea of buying a place in France after he saw Bourgogne. Miracles do happen!

    We rented a fabulous house in Levernois, but it was a 2BR 2BA and thus likely not what you’re looking for. If you’re going to have a car and want to stay (5 min.) outside of town, you might consider staying at the lovely L’Hostellerie de Levernois; at a minimum, book a table at their Bistrot du Bord de l’Eau (you may have already been there). Also, we had a great tour guide so if you’re interested…

    Bon voyage! This is my short trip year so I’ll only have a week in Paris. Next year is my 60th and I’m hoping to have a 5-week stay.

  18. I understand your feeling about changing course. I have often done the same as I tend to plan my travel well in advance (due to work). What appealed to me 18 months ago may not appeal as much when the trip is closer….. I look at it this way: my vacation is limited, so I want to go to the places that are most meaningful and restorative for me. There’s always (hopefully) another year.

    Like you I’ve been trying to grow my hair longer for a different style. But I’m throwing in the towel and getting it cut this weekend. My desire for longer hair has been trumped by my stronger desire to not spend large amounts of time getting it to behave. Hoping you’ll give us an update on your progress.

  19. Our annual trip for over fifteen years had been to Europe with France a favorite. However, last year we decided it was time for a change (hubby had recently retired) and we spent four weeks in Australia and New Zealand. We just returned from a Panama Canal cruise during which Cartagena, Colombia and Antigua, Guatemala were favorite places and look forward to a trip to Israel in October. BTW, if you love Paris as I do, you will also love Vienna!

  20. We are doing a tour of Scandinavia in September, Copenhagen, Stockholm and finishing in Oslo. I am wondering what the weather will be like at that time of the year, and what sort of clothes and shoes to pack. We will then be finishing in south west France for ten days, and Paris for a few days, where I think it will probably be a bit warmer than Scandinavia. I will probably need a bit more than just carry on. However, I do not want to take a lot of clothes, learnt my lesson from travelling around Europe and having to cart suitcases up and down stairs at train stations and then onto and off the trains which are never platform height and putting cases up into overhead storage on the train. So any help with what weather is likely to be like would be gratefully received.
    Travelled last year with a pair of sneakers which were wonderfull, so comfortable and could be worn with jeans pants and a denim skirt, but would they be suitable for
    Scandinavia.

    1. As they say in Swedish: absolut! We were in Stockholm and Copenhagen last spring, and these cities just knocked me out: beautiful, vibrant with healthy and happy looking people. Well-dressed, but casual. Bring those sneakers.

  21. I love Paris but Vienna is one of my least favourite cities. Everyone is different. I am glad I been there and really enjoyed other parts of Austria. The area you will be visiting is lovely and I am sure you will get to Vienna when the time is right for you. I hope to travel around Germany, especially the north, and meet up with friends who live in the UK this year.

  22. We’re returning to France in the fall for a month. After 30+ visits, the country still leaves us wanting more!

    Vienna is nice for 2-3 nights (we paired it with Budapest), but, if you’re a die-hard francophile, there’s no other place in the world that compares to “l’hexagone”! 🙂

  23. Vienna is a very cosmopolitan city, and so are Budapest and Bucharest. Settling on France each and every time does not take you far down history lane. Vienna was the heart of the AustroHungarian Empire while Bucharest was always considered the Paris of the east! Expanding one’s horizons is a must for understanding Europe and Western civilization as a whole and not just a bitty part of it. One always learns something worthy everywhere one goes. Go visit beyond France and then return and recover in the French countryside for a few days. That’s what I would do to expand knowledge and experience culture. And by the way, the Balkan Peninsula is a marvel as well. Worth a visit. While the French country side is still charming, France in the last 100+ years has fallen off the high horse, hardly any advances in anything worthwhile, from a cultural, artistic and scientific point of view. The Italians took them out on fashion as well. For that matter, even the Germans in the big cities are better dressed than the French. I’m afraid the “ metro, boulot, dodo” wth the associated doldrums plus the wave of undesirable antisemitism that pushed the French Jews to leave the country for good has downgraded a once great culture. And it’s continuing its down course with no sign of recovery. Oh, “ come c’est dommage!!

    1. At least they have decent public transport, unlike some other First-World countries. Seriously, did you eat a bad baguette?

      Several of my friends in France happen to be Jewish, including one who was a hidden child in the war. They aren’t going anywhere. What on earth is “undesirable” antisemitism; no antisemitism or other form of racism is desirable…

      1. Hi lagatta, I read her comment to mean that all antisemitism is undesirable. But yes, there is still a vibrant Jewish presence in Paris.

        1. Thanks. I don’t think of your blog as a place for debate, but I found her post extremely negative. Paris has been doing a lot to become greener; I remember the stench of diesel in the air 30 years ago. The Jewish presence in Paris is distinctive in that it is Ashkenazi and Sephardic in about equal numbers.

          I’m serious about the public transport. The new tram circling Paris (inside the Périphérique) will make the city far more accessible for people with limited mobility, and parents travelling with small children. There are many other scientific, technical and cultural achievements over the last 100 years, but it is hard to think of all of them on demand.

          1. I agree with you about the public transport! It’s one of the things we appreciate most about France, periodic strikes notwithstanding.

  24. We are going to take a leisurely mid- Atlantic road trip this spring — DC, Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Harpers Ferry, Baltimore, Richmond — and spend a couple of weeks in Switzerland starting in mid-September. Winding that up with a night or two in Paris, which happily has a direct flight daily to our home city in North Carolina.

    Susan, we built a trip around Prague, Vienna and Budapest a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed each city. They’re an easy train ride and each offers a different, fascinating experience.

  25. 2019 will be a big travel year for me, and the travel has already commenced.

    I’m now wintering (January through March) in New Orleans and studying French, by which I mean (cough!) bebe francais, otherwise known at the New Orleans branch of Alliance Francaise as the A.1.1 cours. (Apologies for not figuring out how to use my PC laptop keyboard to insert French accents here!). I’m taking this course because I’ve long fantasized about studying French in Paris, but knew I would be more comfortable attempting that if I first acquired a little basic French. Hence, a bebe francais winter in New Orleans — with the bonus of an adult, Uptown Mardi Gras season in the company of good NOLA friends. 🙂

    This summer I’ll visit friends on the beach (North Carolina) and the mountains (New Hampshire).

    In fall I’ll join other friends for a small wine barge trip in Alsace, with visits pre- and post- barge trip to Paris.

    December is a Really Big Deal: An adventure cruise to Antarctica on Silversea’s expedition ship, Silver Cloud, preceded by a five-day sojourn in Chile.

    Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Except that I can think of another half dozen places it pains me NOT to be visiting in 2019. I know … terrible, terrible problem. 😉

  26. I really hope to get back to Italy soon; this may be possible this autumn. If not, I may well be spending a month in Amsterdam working at a research institute; this is not well paid (like a grad student’s stipend) but it is not full-time so I can do independent work, and always have when there. If I do that, I’ll take the Thalys train to Paris, mostly to visit old friends.

    If I travel to Italy I want to spend a month there, renting a little flat or studio, perhaps in Perugia where I used to study, if not, in Rome, but not dead centre.

  27. I for one am absolutely thrilled that we can have different opinions. The world would be a very dull place if we all agreed on the same things and aren’t we lucky that we live in countries where we are free to express our opinions without fear of prosecution or persecution. I love all the different countries and cities I have had the luck and ability to visit, all bring a different perspective to this world we inhabit.

  28. I’ll let you know about travel once I hear what this year’s tax bill is 😉 This year it’s hard to predict as we are closing a business.
    Thank you for seeking out non-wool wraps; I can wear wool but many can’t.